Caledonia Argus

County employees on the lookout for mosquito habitat

Posted: 5/13/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

In a cost-cutting move, Houston County will no longer contract for mosquito surveillance services from La Crosse County. Instead, county employees will be asked to keep a lookout for tire dumps and other mosquito-breeding habitats and report them to the zoning office.

Linda Grupa, public health nursing director, appeared before the county board May 6 and told commissioners that this was one area that could be cut from her budget. Employees will be given forms for reporting illegal tire dumps.

In another matter from the Public Health Department, Grupa reported that Dr. Devine has resigned as medical director of the department. Dr. Ingrid Watkins of the Caledonia Clinic has agreed act as medical director.

House will come down

The county board agreed to tear down a house it owns o Pine Street which was previously rented out. The house sits on property adjacent to the sheriffís garage. The garage will be retained for the time being. Plans are to use the lot for parking.

The county board has also given approval for Henke to obtain quotes on highway striping. In the past, the striping has been put out on bids, but the amount has been less than $50,000, so it is not necessary for the county to go through the bidding process. Henke said that he still expects the quotes to be competitive.

Commissioner Kevin Kelleher noted that the federal government mandates the type of paint that must be used to paint the stripes but offered no financial assistance. He said he believes that most people in the county would be surprised to hear that the count spends just under $50,000 per year to stripe the highways.

Reider resigns

In other news, the board received the resignation of Chief Deputy Robert Reider, who will be leaving the Sheriffís Office in September. The board will send Reider a letter in appreciation of his service.

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